Yes, you can. (Score 1)

I've had a past which involved the legal system due to technical and interstate financial crimes. That past was about 23 years ago. What people want is to see that you've reformed. They want to see that you're honest. They want to see that you're not the risk or liability that you once were. Time will make the difference here. If your last transgression was 6 months ago then you are going to have problems. If your last transgression was 10 years ago then you likely don't pose the same problem that you did before. Small steps in improving yourself will show potential employers that you have changed your life direction. You need to be able to show a prospective employer what you've done to improve yourself. I don't know what you have been applying for, but for what it's worth, I've been able to work without issue in sensitive job environments as a contractor for various well-known government agencies. My past has never held me back in this regard. The important part is that I was honest and up front with what I had done. Being honest conveys accepting responsibility for your actions and realizing that what you've done is unacceptable to society. There is a book that I recently finished that was written by a long-time acquaintance of my family. This acquaintance spent a few years as a guest in state and federal prisons for various felony accomplishments. The book is written primarily for the ex-offender to change his or her life course. However, there is a lot of good information generally in the book that is applicable to a wide range of people and backgrounds, ex-offender or not. For instance, this guy went from prison with felony convictions to being a corporate aircraft pilot to starting an Internet Service Provider and acting as the company's CEO before selling it. He steps through what he's done to improve himself, how things have worked out, how people have responded to him, etc. It's available on Amazon for something ridiculously inexpensive like $3.99. The book is called "Slaying the Dragon - The Journey from the Dungeon to the Ivory Tower" by David J Koch. It may help you in your journey. I should mention that I receive no compensation or anything else for suggesting the book. My motive is purely from coming from a similar background as yours and having this acquaintance with the background and the life accomplishments that proves a good career and life can be had if you're determined enough.